But how would you attempt to prove the truth of this assertion? You would first prove, as I have done, that Jesus is a created, dependent being. Then you would say, his names, and attributes, and offices, and works, and words prove him to be "very God." Now apply this mode of reasoning to the ancient Prophets, and the inspired Apostles. They also received exalted titles, and were placed in high offices, and wrought stupendous miracles, and uttered lofty language. Some of them

were called Gods. Some of them controlled the rain and wind, the river and sea, the moon and sun, life and death. Some of them foretold future events, and imparted their prophetic spirit. Some of them are to judge the world and even angels. Some of them began their discourse with these magnificent phrases. "Hear O heavens, and give ear O earth." And none of them were more careful than Jesus, to attribute all their powers, and privileges and honors to God. Why then do you not affirm that these persons were very Gods, as well as very men? Why do you not invest them with two distinct natures? You have precisely the same kind of evidence, and not greatly inferior in degree, to prove them truly divine, as you have to prove Jesus truly divine. You must do it, to be consistent in your reasoning; or you must admit that he had but one nature. You have your choice.

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This admis

But this is not all. Admit that Jesus is possessed of two natures; and what does the admission prove? Jesus was a deceiver! Yes. I repeat it. sion proves that Jesus was a deceiver; as I will show to your satisfaction. His disciples asked him a fair question. They wished to know the precise time when Jerusalem should be destroyed. He gave them an apparently hon

est answer.

"Of that day, and that hour, knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the son, but the FATHER." You do not pretend that the son is the Father. Now the son either did know the day and hour when this event would take place, or he did not know. If he was very God, he did know; for God must know all things. And if he did know, he uttered a deliberate falsehood; and intentionally deceived his disciples; for he unequivocally and solemnly declared that this exact time was known to no being but the Father; was not known to the son; when it must have been, had he possessed a nature truly divine. And if he deceived them in this instance, where is your evidence that he did not deceive them in every instance? You have none. You can place no dependence on his declarations. Such is the natural, the necessary, the inevitable consequence of investing the son with two natures. For my own part, if I cannot believe every word Jesus uttered, he is no Saviour for me. Thank God, I can. I believe he had but one nature. And believing this, I receive his instructions as true-as DIVINE. Yes. When he declared to his disciples-" ALL THINGS THAT I HAVE HEARD OF MY FATHER, I HAVE MADE KNOWN UNTO YOU "—I believe he uttered the truth, the WHOLE TRUTH, and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.

My Friends-The question is now put to your consciences. On this infinitely important subject, are you disposed to receive the plain, current, unembarrassed doctrine of revelation? Are you willing to believe that "there is but one God the Father;" that "the Father sent the son to be the Saviour of the world ;" and that the "true worshippers shall worship the Father?" Will you make the holy scriptures the standard of your faith,

and the rule of your conduct? And will you study them in connexion, and compare passage with passage, and exercise your common sense in their interpretation, so as to obtain their true meaning? Or will you form a system of belief, from detached verses, and obscure expressions, and human inferences, and party explanations? You have your choice.

But remember, my friends, you are accountable for your opinions and conduct. And also remember, that you are to be judged by a plain rule now in your possession. Hear the solemn declaration of Jesus. "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him; the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day." Yes. You are to be judged by the very words Jesus has spoken, and which are recorded in the gospels. And when placed before his judgment seat, should you be charged with accusing him of making himself God, what would be your answer ? Could you produce one passage in which he declared himself to be God? Did he not take all possible pains to represent himself as wholly dependent on God? Did he not say in so many words, that his Father was "the only true God?" And should you be charged with accusing him of making himself equal with God, what would be your answer? Could you produce one passage in which he declared himself to be equal with God? Could you not produce hundreds, in which he declared his inferiority to his Father? Did he not say in so many words "My Father is greater than I?" And should you be charged with worshipping him as God, what would be your answer? Could you produce one passage in which he commanded any one to worship him as God? Did he not uniformly represent his Father as the only

!

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proper object of religious worship? Did he not say in so many words—“Ye shall ask me nothing? At that solemn tribunal, it will be of no avail to say, that you were thus taught by your parents, your instructers, your creeds, your ministers. To none of these, to no man, to no body of men, are you accountable for your religious sentiments. To God alone are you answerable. has given a revelation for you to study, and understand. By this, will sentence be pronounced. If your guilt be unintentional, pardon will be granted; but if caused by neglect or wilfulness, deplorable must be your condition. Remember this. And also remember the words of Jesus. "Whosoever shall be ashamed of my words, of him also shall the son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father." John viii. 50. Mark viii. 38.